Flora 🏺🌿

Love and War 💞❤️‍🔥🕊️ Happy valentines everyone!🥰 Februarys illustration is of Ares and Aphrodite looking very flirty and in love, or at least some form of it.😅 I’ve continued exploring new techniques in my style and this time I really feel like I’ve unlocked something with aphrodites dress drapery! I love this piece so much that I made the sticker to be a closeup of the lovebirds against a heart shape ❤️‍🔥 Aphrodite was the Greek goddess of love, beauty, pleasure and procreation. Though married to Hephaestus, she had an ongoing affair with Ares, god of war, battlelust, courage and civil order. I’ve always interpreted their love as passionate but a bit toxic, even for the Greek gods. Eventually Aphrodite divorced Hephaestus, so she and Ares did end up together (or as much as Greek Gods could be). The divorce happened once their affair was spotted by Helios and reported to her then husband. Their discovery in Hephaestus’ own bed (wth!) by being trapped in a golden net is one of the primary examples of Hephaestus’ craftsmanship and vengeance. #greekmyth #aphrodite #ares #romancereader #ancientgreece #valentinesart #romantasy #hellenism

It’s been ages so let’s do a Meet the Artist!🏺🌿 🧡My names Flora and I am a freelance illustrator with a special interest in the Mediterranean world, especially Roman daily life around the empire. I love to create art inspired by archaeology sites, ancient myths, and general visuals that echo times long past. This year I’m also looking at maybe exploring fantasy and gothic vibes as well🦇 🌿I went to uni in Baltimore for a bachelors in Ancient Studies, and then returned to the UK for a masters in Museum Studies. I now live in Newcastle which is at the east end of Hadrian’s Wall, and I am constantly inspired by the Romano-British archaeology around me🏺🌿 🏛️for fun I like to hike around the beautiful Northumberland countryside, grab drinks with my friends, read books for my bookclubs, learn Italian, spend all my money travelling to Italy, and occasionally have a Sims or BoTW marathon. I absolutely HATE heights, cooked spinach, not seeing the sun all winter, and all this mass produced AI art nonsense clogging up my feeds 😡 You can see more of my work in my Portfolio, buy prints and merch on my redbubble, and even support me further on my Patreon 🧡 #artvsartist #meettheartist #ancienthistory #greekmythology #ancientrome #travelitaly

BOUDICCA’S DAUGHTER ♥️🐎🏛️🌿 Sooooo nice to finally show these two covers next to each other!! This year I had the pleasure of illustrating both the UK and USA cover for @elodielharper ’s upcoming novel, #BoudiccasDaughter 🐎 I know I’m biased, but I’ve read an advanced copy and it’s SO GOOD I’m still thinking about it weeks later 🥹 Thank you to @headofzeus and @unionsqandco for bringing me on board 🥰 #bookstagramuk #bookgirlie #bookaesthetic #ancientrome #ancienthistory #historicalfiction #historicalromance

The Revenge of Juno 👸❇️🪿🦚 May’s illustration is of Antigone- but wait... not that Antigone! This is the Trojan princess and sister to King Priam, Antigone. who claimed she was more beautiful than Juno... and well... got promptly turned into a stork. This is basically the entire myth, as told in Ovid’s account of Arachne’s story, where Athena/Minerva wove a tapestry full of stories of mortal hubris against gods🕷️ This illustration shows the Goddess Juno (Hera) transforming the hapless Antigone into a White Stork, whilst Juno’s two birds, a goose and a peacock, watch a new member being added to their flock. The princess is almost entirely stork, only her legs are still human, and her hands poke out amongst the feathers of her new wings. Her dress is tattered as the transformation magically burns it away, and tears escape from her eyes. Juno is standing to the side, left hand on hip and right hand clenched around Antigone’s new elongated neck, with light emanating from her fist. The palette is chartreuse, cornflower, magenta, and cream. Juno’s skin is blue to match her birds, and Antigone’s human skin is magenta. The May sticker is of two nesting storks on top of a column drum, in the same palette. #greekmythology #ancienthistory #juno #learnsomethingnew #hellenism

We're in the final stretch for the Kickstarter for Nostos, my TTRPG about sailing home and saying goodbye! Links for the campaign are in bio. Shout out to our incredible cover illustration done by @flaroh ! #ttrpg #indiettrpg #kickstarter #roleplayinggame

Life in a Roman Street ✨Nighttime version✨ 🏛️🍷🌙💋 I had so much fun illustrating April’s Roman street scene that I wanted to make a nocturnal version! This is a less busy street scene, but still showing a cast of characters going about their lives. It’s focussed on Roman nightlife, specifically the bar scenes, from patrons to lupae, “ladies of the night” 🏛️🌿 This month my patrons have had early access to this piece, and are able to download wallpapers and the hi-res printable file (the latter expires end of April)! 🧡 Scene description: In this scene we start next to a crowded thermopolium where men drink and women wave out the window from the rooms above. On the street, one man walks to the pub, another gazing up at the women leaning out of the window. Giggling lupae in togas also look up at the window, while across the road the brothel owner shouts and points for them to get to work. Their sister has already found a client further up the street, and the two are watched by a tearful man sitting at the thermopolium (her boyfriend?). A similar transaction is occurring in the distant background, where a man walks towards a beckoning toga-clad lady, whilst reaching into his purse to pay her pimp. Finally, unrelated to the street’s commerce, a litter carried by four enslaved men enters the scene in the very distance. Inside are high-status Romans returning from a party at their friends, and one of them starts to pull the curtain closed to hide from the debauchery on the streets. #ancientrome #archaeology #romanhistory #streetlife #ancienthistory

Happy Paperback day for the brilliant Boudicca’s Daughter by @elodielharper ! If you loved The Wolf Den trilogy, this novel feels part of that same vivid world – this time giving name and legend to the unforgettable Solina, Boudicca's Daughter. Design: @simondesignscovers Illustration @flaroh #BoudiccasDaughter #ElodieHarper #HistoricalFiction #Bookstagram #Bookish #AncientHistory #WomenInHistory #Boudicca

🌿🏛️Happy 2779th birthday Rome!🏛️🌿 To celebrate, here’s some of my fave Roman pieces throughout my ancient history illustration career 🥰🏛️🌿 this post includes an excerpt from an unused page of the Roman Baths Museum Activity book (soldier on the map), and an even closer look at my latest Roman street scene illustration! #natalediroma 🐺 . . . #ancientrome #romanhistory #storiaditalia #archaeology

Life in a Roman Street 🏛️🍷🌿🚶🏻‍♀️ April’s illustration is here and it is DETAILED! It is a busy street scene in Rome loosely set during the Flavian period, showing a cast of characters going about their daily lives. As well as marking Romes upcoming birthday next week, I created this illustration to show off the vibrant colours and personalities that made up the Ancient Roman world 🏛️🧡🌿 This street is curved, which I admit is unusual for a Roman street, but not impossible (I just thought it would be more fun). The colours were inspired by the pinks and teals and yellows in Roman architectural frescoes, and I was also inspired by these two reconstructions of Pompeii by Jegou and Henniquiau who employ a vibrant palette rather than the usual blinding white and red. This month my patrons have had early access to this piece and the write-up, as well as wallpapers, the hi-res file, and the mailed A6 print and sticker (The sticker is my favourite characters in the forefront of the scene👩‍❤️‍💋‍👩). The write-up also includes a ten-step process of how I went from sketch to final illustration. Scene description; on the left, a couple are walking past the thermopolium wearing their finery. On the right, two children play in the road with their dog while their nursemaid orders them onto the pavement. Behind them, a matrona enters the street from some steps, shielding her eyes from the sun while her attendant holds a parasol. Across the road from the two, a togate man and his two attendants walk towards the thermopolium and are acknowledged by one of the old-timers at the door. Moving further to the background, a donkey cart loaded with amphora approaches the stepping stones. To its left two people chat at the fountain, and a child plays with his doll next to the man. Above, people look out from windows and balconies, gossiping or doing household chores 🧡 #natalediroma #ancientrome #archaeology #wlw #ancienthistory

Lovestruck (Helen of Troy)💘🔥🌊 This illustration was created for the March 2024 illustration. It is is based on the myth of Helen of Troy but named ‘Lovestruck’ to focus on the devastating impact of Cupid’s arrow. It features her in Mycenaean dress, with hearts flying out from the bolt’s exit like blood. In the background ships race towards the same direction as her propulsion from the force of the strike. I wanted to create something colourful and whimsical where I could completely focus on the illustration. Subsequently I’ve gone for an illustration more based in aesthetics and symbolism than my usual “historically accurate/canon” pieces. This isn’t to say it’s complete fiction, I’ve still drawn from a lot of Mycenean/Minoan visual culture🐙 🖼️ you can get prints of this piece on my Redbubble!; /i/art-print/Lovestruck-Helen-of-Troy-by-flaroh/160091683.1G4ZT #greekmyth #ancientgreece #helenoftroy #theiliad #minoan

The Argonauts (and Jason)⚔️⛵️🌊 🖼️Prints are available on my Redbubble! I’ve been looking at my portfolio and realised ive not shared this illustration since I posted it last year. It’s the Argonauts, the famed team of Greek heroes that sailed the Argo across the ancient Mediterranean world in their quests for adventure. Their main objective was to arrive in Colchis and steal the Golden Fleece🐏 This scene isn’t of any specific location in their quest, but I would imagine it’s probably the Island of Cyzicus since Heracles is still a member of the team (shortly into the quest he leaves to try find his “special friend” Hylas who was stolen by nymphs). Orpheus is in the foreground with his lyre attracting curious sea birds, while behind him Atalanta stalks the sand, Heracles gets annoyed by one of the birds, and Jason shouts up at some other heroes on the Argo.⛵️ #greekmythology #ancienthistory #learnonline #hercules #ancientgreece

🌙Riddles of the Sphinx by @meaganclevelandauthor 🏛️🌿✨ Thank you very much to Meagan for commissioning this piece to celebrate two years since publishing her novel ‘Riddles of the Sphinx’! Prints of this piece are available to purchase on my Redbubble Shop too🧡 The brief was to illustrate the MC overlooking a nighttime view of the Ancient Greek city of Thebes while a pilgrimage of torchbearers winds its way through and out the city, en route to Delphi. I’ve not drawn such a detailed scene of a Greek reconstruction before, so I hope I’ve done the Thebans justice! 🏛️🌿 The excerpt: I climbed the stairs until I stood atop the ramparts. The ring of mountains around our city were simply darker shadows in the black night. I noticed the wind first. It tugged playfully at my unbound hair, tendrils of dark curls tickling my cheeks and my nose. The cool night air was like a gentle caress on my skin. A startled laugh bubbled from my lips at the sensation. Then I noticed the lights. In the darkness of the night the lights glowed as steadily as the stars in the sky. They dotted the landscape, a golden current flowing northwest. A river of stars. #ancienthistory #ancientgreece #booksbooksbooks #visitgreece #archaeology